"We’ll remove the scene, I’ll stop the film," says SRK

Shah Rukh reacts to the extreme anger of a veteran actor Manoj Kumar over a spoof in 'Om Shanti Om'.
Shah Rukh Khan's Diwali blockbuster Om Shanti Om not only created fireworks at the box office but also managed to spark the anger of a veteran actor Manoj Kumar.

Manoj Kumar is one of the many stars from the 70s era who have been spoofed in the film. After the actor threatened legal action for the spoof he believes to be done in bad taste, both Shah Rukh Khan and director Farah Khan have come out with an instantaneous apology

Although the film maker maintains that the comic scene in the movie was meant as a tribute, Manoj Kumar is not happy. He is angry because of the way he has been spoofed in the film.

In Om Shanti Om, a Manoj Kumar lookalike doesn’t get to enter the premiere of a film and even gets beaten up by the police.

He says, “Manoj Kumar who is a citizen of India has been shot in the heart. Someone who was made an icon by the Indian masses has been insulted and mocked at. I think more than legal action, moral action has more importance”.

Interestingly, Manoj Kumar hasn’t seen the film yet. Director Farah Khan is sure that once he watches the film he will enjoy it. She also says that it was never the intention to disrespect the veteran actor.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, the director justified, “I really wasn’t expecting this kind of a reaction because I thought that it was very sweet and done with a lot of love rather than any kind of malice so I was a bit taken aback in the morning.

Shah Rukh added, “I quickly called him up. I apologised to him. I’ll go tomorrow with Farah and personally apologise to him, show him the film and in case he does not like it, we’ll remove the scene, I’ll stop the film.

I would never like the wonderfulness that we’ve got with Om Shanti Om this week to be at the cost of anybody being hurt”.

The film also has a comic take on many other actors and filmmakers from 70s, current generation of Bollywood and even a hilarious spoof on South Indian films.

Shah Rukh Khan : Bollywood's Biggest Boy

One year. Two movies. Three, if you count a special appearance. And the crores haven’t stopped adding up. He’s never had a godfather in the industry. He has successfully stepped into the shoes of India’s biggest superstar, while the gossip mills have gone into overdrive about their rivalry. He has led a team of Indian women hockey players to such a convincing onscreen victory ( Chak De! India ) that the government has had to sit up and take notice.

Three months later, he won over the hottest young thing on the screen today, and set the box-office ablaze with Om Shanti Om . Somewhere in between, he also balle balled to Dil Da Mamla for buddy Sajid’s debut film. Can Shah Rukh Khan be anything but the betaaj badshah of Bollywood. “Conviction, honesty and commitment — Shah Rukh has them all,” says movie critic Indu Mirani. “Whatever role he chooses to play, he gives it his all. That’s what makes SRK so special,” she adds.

“Overseas, he’s a lottery. In the multiplexes, he’s an entertainer... Though the majority of SRK’s big banner films don’t work in the interiors, he still manages to command mass appeal,” says Delhi distributor Sanjay Mehta.

Director’s cut - “His personality and charisma can light up a room and, more often than not, he has the audience eating out of his hand. Yet, Shah Rukh is humble as well as meticulous,” says Chak De ! India director Shimit Amin. “Having done theatre, TV and offbeat films, his range of roles is ever expanding. And every time he’s giving a shot, it’s evident that he’s done his homework.” No wonder he tops the class this year, every year.

Shah Rukh Khan beats Tom Cruise

Shah Rukh Khan and writer-director Farah Khan exceeded the wildest forecasts as they not only beat the Tom Cruise, Robert Redford and Meryl Streep starring political drama Lions for Lambs over the weekend outside America but also propelled their Om Shanti Om into world movie history.

The film grossed a mighty $17 million gross in India and an estimated $4 million in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the UAE. Ken Naz, who runs distribution company Eros International in North America, called the phenomenon a high watermark for Indian movie industry.

OSO could exceed the $3 million mark set by each Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahna and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in North America and the United Kingdom. Shah Rukh featured in those films, too well.

Shah Rukh Khan produced OSO was the highest grossing film outside North America, followed closely by the boldly successful Sanjay Leela Bhansali's intensely romantic Saawariya, the first film the Hollywood giant Sony made with an Indian producer. The film, which too performed far beyond the expectations, grossed $14.4 million in India, according to Sony. In North America, Australia, the United Kingdom and the UAE, it mesmerized an impressive $1.2 million.

The grand success of two Indian films caught the attention of leading publications ranging from The Washington Post to Variety, the influential trade publication.

Variety declared that 'Bollywood stole the spotlight from Tom Cruise's Lions for Labs at the international box office over the weekend, with a pair of socko launches for Om Shanti Om and Saawariya.'

While Lions for Lambs launched with a $10.3 million in 45 foreign markets that number was easily topped by the two Indian films each showing in less than a dozen markets.

It was also the first time in recent Indian movie history two very big films opened with huge numbers the same weekend. Such a phenomenon is not uncommon in Hollywood. For instance, 10 days ago American Gangster opened with $43 million, and the animated comedy Bee Movie sucked in $39 million.

While many critics had welcomed OSO as a lively crime comedy, they were harsh on Saawariya calling it meandering and boring. But the audiences thought the opposite. Even if the film were to come down mightily in the next few weeks, it could still prove to be profitable, trade insiders say.

Its opening weekend success was even more impressive than that of OSO since the film had newcomers Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in the lead.

In North America, OSO, which was No. 12 on the box-office chart led by Bee Movie's $26 million in its second week, the crime comedy took in $1.5 million making it not the highest grossing Hindi film of all time, beating KANK's $1.3 million. But while the latter produced and directed by Karan Johar also starred Shah Rukh, it had a huge cast comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee, OSO was a solo show for Shah Rukh who was cast opposite debutante Deepika Padukone.

The film also had a widest opening for an Indian film in North America with the distributor Eros International taking up 117 theaters. Usually star-driven Hindi films open in 70 theaters. In many cities including Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, several shows went full on Saturday.

Sony too gave Saawariya, which opened the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York on Thursday, a big release, unleashing it in 85 theaters in North America. It generated $600,000 in the U.S., $340,000 in the U.K. and $100,000 in Australia, according to the distributor.

'The stunning numbers for both pics comes two months after Sony pacted with Eros -- the leading Indian movie group -- for a multipicture production and distribution deal that encompasses six to eight movies in the first year of the agreement,' Variety wrote.

King Khan Performs for Cricket Teams

The King Khan performed for the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams yesterday (November 12) at a gala event organised by Subroto Roy Sahara of the Sahara Group, triggering speculation over whether Shahrukh Khan had taken the place of the Big B who till recently was the biggest endorser of the Sahara camp. And just where was one-time close friend and confidante Amar Singh?

Meanwhile Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh today (November 13) took jibes against the Sahara Group and also lashed out at Shahrukh Khan, reacting to the reports published in a national newspaper.

The report quoted a top executive of Sahara as saying, "Only family members and not outsiders" were allowed at the recent Sahara function in Lucknow.

An angry Amar Singh reacted today saying it was up to the media to "read between the lines" and that it was Shahrukh Khan who started the verbal duel when he made nasty comments against him at the Filmfare awards last year.

"I have read in Mumbai Mirror that the Director of Corporate Communication has said that only friends and family was invited not outsiders- if Sahara has made this statement it is for you read between the lines," said Singh.

He went on to "put on record", "I have don't have anything against Shahrukh Khan. He made a comment against me in a Filmfare function. He might be a superstar and a rockstar, but I have also got some North Indian foolish supporters who reacted angrily on that. I am sorry about that. Shahrukh gave a statement that his kids had felt very bad about that - even my kids are Shahrukh fan - when they heard his statement they asked me, why Shahrukh 'uncle' was talking against me that way.

"Thereafter he is keeping mum, I am also keeping mum, I do not have any issue with him because he is not joining SP, and I am not going to join Bombay Film Industry.," said Singh to TIMES NOW.

Shahrukh Khan danced the night away on Monday (November 12) at Sahara City in Lucknow - a Dawat -e-Dosti organised by the head honcho of the Sahara Group, Subroto Roy Sahara. While the evening was a gala one with celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, it was not so much the guest list as the people excluded from it that set tongues wagging.

While Shahrukh was given superstar treatment with a private jet and a personal invite, one-time confidante of the Subroto Roy Sahara, SP leader Amar Singh and 'Big B' Amitabh Bachchan were conspicuous by their absence.

Though representatives of the Sahara Group have been quick to brush aside the Big B's absence claiming he was busy - but we can't help but wonder whether a new order is in a place - and is Shahrukh the new poster boy for the Sahara group?

TIMES NOW managed to catch up with BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla, who was also present at the gala, for his take.

"They (Sahara) are the Team India sponsors, Sahara had invited Mr Shahrukh Khan and he was gracious enough to be there," said Shukla.

But while everyone may be doing their best to pooh-pooh the reports - it wouldn't exacztly be a bolt out of the blue, considering rumours have been afloat for sometime now of an alleged falling-out between the Sahara family and Amar Singh and a consequent distancing from the Bachchans as well.

Well, evidently in the world of politics and entertainment, relationships rarely last forever!

Bhansali’s Vitriolic Attack on Shah Rukh Khan

Sanjay Leela Bhanshali seems to have stoked a dormant fire by lashing out against his critics after getting hit by box office blues.
It’s a feud that is spiralling out of control. If you thought that the Saawariya-OSO war would die down with the release of both the films, you got it wrong. In fact the fires have been stoked anew with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s vitriolic attack on Shah Rukh Khan in his media interviews post Saawariya.

After SRK announced a few days before Diwali that he would ‘destroy’ the competition, (read ‘Saawariya’), Bhansali has come back with a vengeance, saying SRK had no locus standi to make such comments, and that it was unfair to put down a work of art.

“This is the new era of marketing a film, where even after it has released, the war will continue. Bhansali is obviously hurt by the negative comments that have been made against him and his film and that is why he is coming out in its defence,” says one industry source.

The makers of OSO however do not seem very keen to take this further. When we sms-ed Farah Khan asking for her reaction, she gave us a very tongue-in-cheek reply saying, “I have no reactions whatsoever. Too busy taking congratulatory calls.”

Not everyone is very happy though. Film critic Taran Adarsh, who also found a mention in Bhansali’s tirade is in no mood to sit back and listen.

“I want to tell Bhansali that he should wake up and smell the coffee. If there is a theatre near his house, he should go and count the number of people who are even sitting in the film, let alone liking the film. People have a mind of their own. They don’t need Taran Adarsh to tell them that Saawariya is a bad film and has been rejected by everyone.”

Strong words those. Obviously, we haven’t heard the last of this yet. Its going to be a long drawn out war.

Facts you never knew about SRK

Facts you never knew about SRK

We will tell you facts about Shahrukh that everyone might not know. Here is a sneak peak into Shahrukh's life.

There was a program that was broadcasted on Sunday in Star Gold, revealing all this in a special DVD of SRK’s life.

· 2nd November 1965. In New Delhi's Talwar Nursing Home, to parents Mir Taj Muhammad and Lateef Fatima, was born a young boy. For the family, that lived in Rajinder Nagar, a middle class locality in the national capital, it was time to rejoice and celebrate the newly born.

· When he was just four years of age, Shah Rukh happened to throw a rock at a neighborhood boy because of which the latter's teeth broke. Late at night that day, the child's father came to the house in an inebriated state while wielding a knife. Shah Rukh's father coolly opened the door and when this man threatened to kill his son for what he had done, he crosschecked with Shah Rukh as to whether or not he had committed the act of mischief. When the child confessed, the dad asked him to go out and explain himself to the man who was not only drunk but also armed. Shah Rukh had to go outside and apologize for his deed.

· Shah Rukh had won the Raman Subramanyam Award in Class X (1982-83) for character, all round performance in studies, sports and extra curricular activities and the Sword of Honour in Class XII (1984-85) for the Best all round performance, loyalty, obedience, integrity and sportsmanship.

· The college where he studied was Delhi University's Hans Raj College, and Shah Rukh did his Economics Honors from the institution between 1985-88. When Hans Raj celebrated its Golden Jubilee, the college gave away 17 shields to its alumni who had excelled in their lives and professions and Shah Rukh was one of them.

· After graduating from Hans Raj, he went on to join Jamia Milia Islamia's Mass Communications Research Centre to do his masters in filmmaking and journalism.

· Shah Rukh had a solid theatre background and had worked with an institution like Barry John in New Delhi.

· Shah Rukh was, in fact uncomfortably possessive about his lady love (Gauri), whom he lovingly calls Gaurima. So much so that he would pick up a quarrel with her even if she let her hair down…literally. Finally, Gauri lost her cool and without informing Shah Rukh, came down to Bombay. Shah Rukh followed her to the huge city and kept looking for her around the beaches because of his awareness that she was attracted to them in a big way. Later, a cab guy advised him to go to Aksa Beach and Gorai Beach. After searching frantically, he managed to track her down when she was standing in the water! Isn't that filmi?

· One of the reasons why Shah Rukh bought Mannat, his palatial bungalow, was since he wanted to have an exclusive prayer room. Shah Rukh says that if he were broke, he will sell everything except Mannat

· Both the children, Aryan (13th November 1997) and Suhana (23rd May 2000) have been taught to revere the co-existence of Ganpati and Allah in the Khan household. How wonderfully they are being brought up manifests itself in the story that when Shah Rukh was having a critical neck surgery, Aryan went to the temple and said an Islamic prayer so that his father could get well soon.

· Shahrukh Khan is a Muslim but celebrates Diwali and Christmas along with Eid every year. He keeps a Lakshmi Pooja every year in his office and at home. He even has a Christmas tree at home. From all the festivals Shahrukh's kids love Christmas the most.

· Shahrukh Khan has the holy Quran Bismillah kept along with the idols of Indian Gods at his place. His kids pray to both the God's simultaneously.

· Shahrukh Khan can be managed best only by his wife as she understands him the most. She is the only person who can command Shahrukh to do things. Infact Shahrukhs's daughter Suhana imitates Gauri Khan very well by saying in a strict voice, "Shahrukh, eat your food."

· Shahrukh never asks anything for himself from God. It is always his family and his close people he asks for. But whenever he wants to ask for himself, he never goes to a temple but goes to his parent's grave. He believes that whatever he will ask there will be fulfilled and yes most of them have come true which makes Shahrukh's belief all the more strong.

· Shahrukh requires a lot of his own space for himself and his near and dear ones understand that. Whenever Shahrukh is angry, he needs to be left alone or you will only make him angrier.

· Shahrukh loves watching movies in the darkness of his car. He loves watching movies alone and peacefully.

· Shahrukh is a complete game freak. In fact he turns everyone around him into a gaming freak. The latest game that Shahrukh is playing is Smackdown versus Raw which is a wrestling game. Shahrukh can't wait to get his hands on the new Play Station 3 as he is not an XBOX fan.

· Shahrukh studied at St. Columbus School and he believes that it is the best school in the whole world not because he studied in it, but because he feels they are very disciplined.

· Shahrukh still remembers his first fan who is a lady. She was his fan even before he became a film star or a famous televison star. She remembers him since his theater days. She shouted Shahrukh's name on the middle of the road when she spotted him. Shahrukh still cannot forget that moment.

· For Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Shah Rukh had taken a signing amount of Rs 5,000 and did the entire film for Rs. 25,000.

· Shah Rukh had signed a movie called Jadoo co-starring Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher & Navneet Nishan to be directed by Pavan Kaul. But Shah Rukh refused to kiss Navneet who was playing a vampish role. Shah Rukh had promised himself that he would never kiss any actress on-screen. And, he has stuck to this till today.

· Calcutta has a unique Shah Rukh Khan club that was founded by a Khan admirer Arnab Roy on 13th December 1995 after the release of DDLJ. The club established its own SRK museum in January 2002 and its members were thrilled when Shah Rukh himself visited them on 7th August 20.

SRK says... On Marriage It's nice to be married. You know you come back home from twenty thousand people who are screaming and shouting for you and than you come back to your wife… I think is a great leveler. On Gauri I was eighteen and she was fourteen when we met. What I liked about her was that I didn't find it as difficult as I thought talking to a girl. On Parents My Father was very sweet, soft spoken man. He was the youngest freedom fighter for India actually. My mother was the opposite. She was outgoing and had a very attractive personality. She said I was like Dilip Kumar. At Home There are some unsaid rules. I will not make a phone call once I'm in the house. So you'll always see me making a phone call from the bathroom….. I close the door and then talk On Mumbai I think it's the greatest city in the world. It's very important to my life and to me. I'll always be thankful that Mumbai has given me a family, and actually Mumbai has given me a life. On Acting For me, acting is very spiritual. It combines as sorts of soulful, religious and spiritual things that people do. On time off I don't get excited going out but all my friends make fun that I keep saying that but I shop the most. I keep buying gadgets and stuff and I call them my "utterly useless shopping". On fans photographing The only time I find people invasive is when I am eating. When I'm eating I don't like people looking at me. On time I think time passes by very, very fast. I don't ever have time to grow old. It's so fast. I have this feeling that I am running a few days late in life. Public persona There has to be now a public face very clearly. And that public face is always smiling. And I'm tired. And I'm sometimes in a bad mood. But I cannot pass that onto people.

· Few people do not know that SRK used to live in gautam nagar(south delhi).which he does'nt confess in his interview.whenever any reporter takes his interview about his good old days ,he says that he resided in south Delhi, but he never tell about gautam nagar.